International Merchandise Trade, Preliminary, Australia

This release provides preliminary estimates for Australian international merchandise (goods) trade for the month of September 2020 to help measure the economic impact of coronavirus (COVID-19). These estimates are compiled from administrative data (customs records) sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and are subject to revision. The final September monthly estimates will be published in International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia (cat. no. 5368.0) on 5 November 2020.

• The preliminary figures show that the value of exports increased $756m (3%) to $28,923m from the revised August 2020 value of $28,167m. Year-on-year, the September 2020 figure declined $4,027m (-12%) from September 2019.
• The value of goods imported declined by $245m (-1%) to $23,810m on the revised August 2020 value of $24,055m. Year-on-year, the September 2020 figure declined $2,213m (-9%) from September 2019.
• With the imports decline and the exports increase September 2020 recorded a goods trade surplus of $5,114m (original, current price, merchandise trade basis).

• Exports of goods in September 2020 increased from the revised August 2020 estimate of $28,167m by $756m (3%) to $28,923m.
• The increase in September 2020 was driven by non-monetary gold (excluding gold coin), up $876m (69%) off the back of a $2,270m decline in August 2020. A regular export destination for gold, the United Kingdom, increased by $517m (76%) while France imported $625m of Australian non-monetary gold, the first significant export of non-monetary gold to France.
• Other increases in September include gold coin, up $113m (108%) and beverages, up $98m (35%). The increase in beverages is driven by a $103m (150%) increase in red table wine from fresh grapes exported to China.
• Partially offsetting these increases were declines in exports of petroleum, down $140m (-16%) and gas, down $139m (-7%).
• Year-on-year, exports in September 2020 declined $4,027m (-12%) compared to September 2019. This was primarily driven by falls in gas, down $2,234m (-53%); coal, which has been largely declining since mid-2019, down $1,439m (-30%); and non-monetary gold (excluding gold coin), down $461m (-18%). Over the same period exports of metalliferous ores were up $1,731m (16%).

• From August to September 2020 exports to China declined by $211m (2%) to $11,710m. Driving this decline were exports of coal, down $262m (-41%); and non-ferrous metals, down $53m (-18%). Offsetting these declines were increases in metalliferous ores, up $125m (1%), and beverages, up $102m (131%).
• Over the same period, exports to Japan increased $12m (0%), driven by coal, up $111m (14%) which in turn is driven by hard coking coal used in steel production, offsetting a decline in thermal coal used for electricity generation; and meat, up $39m (19%). These increases were offset by a decline in fish, down $85m (-91%) after a spike in exports of tuna to Japan in August 2020.
• Exports to South Korea declined $60m (-4%) driven by a decline in metalliferous ores, down $93m (-12%).
• Exports to the United Kingdom increased $487m (52%) to $1,420m moving the United Kingdom back into the top five export markets for September 2020 replacing India. This increase was driven almost entirely by non-monetary gold, up $517m (76%). Exports of non-monetary gold to the United Kingdom are common as London is a global trading hub for gold.
• Exports to the United States of America declined $366m (-24%) to $1,135m driven by non-monetary gold, down $235m (-65%). Despite the decline, exports to the United States of America were $80m higher than exports to India where exports remained relatively stable, increasing just $18m (2%).

• Imports of goods in September 2020 declined from the revised August 2020 estimate of $24,055m by $245m (-1%) to $23,810m.
• The decline was driven in part by a decline in imports of non-monetary gold, down $235m (-25%). Thailand, Senegal, and the United Kingdom all had substantial declines (-100%) reporting either very little or no trade with Australia in non-monetary gold for September. 
• Imports of textile yarn, fabrics and related products, which includes commodities associated with personal protective equipment (PPE) such as facemasks and isolation gowns declined further in September 2020, down $194m (-29%) from August 2020 continuing its decline from the record high of $736m in July 2020. Despite this decline, the value for September 2020 was an increase of $144m (42%) on September 2019.
• Other large declines occurred in imports of petroleum, down $173m (-9%); and tobacco, down $101m (-89%). Tobacco imports have spiked in August and declined in September over recent years, most notably in 2019 and 2020 with the annual increases (effective from 1 September each year) in the tobacco excise-equivalent customs duty that have occurred between 2017 and 2020.
• Partially offsetting the overall decline in September 2020, imports of road vehicles increased by $247m (9%). This is the fourth consecutive monthly increase, and year-on-year was only $1m less than the value of road vehicle imports in September 2019.
• Year-on-year imports of goods in September 2020 declined by $2,213m (-9%) on September 2019 due largely to a significant decline in petroleum imports, down $1,151m (-40%). Petroleum imports have been largely declining since late 2018.

• From August to September 2020 imports from China increased, up $264m (4%) to $6,912m, with increases across a broad range of commodities including: petroleum, up $225m (342%) most of which was an increase in diesel imports; office and ADP equipment, up $83m (15%); and miscellaneous manufactured articles, nes, up $82m (14%). Partially offsetting the increase was a decline in textile yarn, fabrics and related products which includes personal protective equipment (PPE), down $168m (-35%).
• Imports of road vehicles was the main driver of the increase in total imports from Japan in September, but also the main driver of the decline in total imports from Germany with road vehicle imports down nearly 50% after a strong August import value.
• Imports from Thailand declined $165m (-13%), driven by non-monetary gold, down $297m (100%). Offsetting this decline was an increase in imports of road vehicles, up $136m (28%). This is the fourth consecutive monthly increase in imports of road vehicles from Thailand.
• Imports from the United States of America declined $76m (-3%), with miscellaneous manufactured articles declining $31m (-14%).

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This release previously used catalogue number 5368.0.55.024